I'm considering getting a G1 from T-Mobile (in the US), and am wondering, I can update to new versions of Android as they come out, even ones targeted towards newer Android phones, correct? For example, would I be able to update my G1 to Android 2.0 when it is available? Thanks.

4 Answers
4

If it's a T-mobile release, they will download it to your phone. I've received two upgrades since getting my phone in April. I believe Android is a platform on top of which the phone carriers build their specific release.

Pioneering T-Mobile G1 owners have
been enjoying the spoils of Android
1.5 (or Cupcake, as it's known 'round these parts) for months now, but it
looks as if that very treat will be
the last taste of confectionery
goodness that the smartphone gets.
According to Android software engineer
Dave Sparks, a time is soon coming
when devs "wont be able to fit the
latest [Android] release on the G1's
internal flash," and yet another
engineer has chimed in via Twitter to
say that he "can't promise" that any
update after 1.5 will fit. For
whatever reason, HTC gifted the G1
with an incredibly meager amount of
internal flash, and considering that
no Android phone will support app
storage / loading from a microSD card,
there's no way to free up room for
Donut, Eclair or Flan. You've been a
real champ, G1, but without 2.0+, we
just can't give you the love and
devotion you truly need. Go on, call
us fickle -- we deserve it.

Donut did make it to the G1 via an OTA update since that post. Time will tell if Eclair will.
–
Chris JOct 29 '09 at 10:13

1

I think that when they made this statement they didn't know for sure what version number Donut was going to get (turned out it was 1.6). Still like Droiddog says: it works, so you could install it yourself
–
Ivo FlipseOct 29 '09 at 10:31

Froyo has definitely made it to the Magic, which has almost the same internals as the Dream/G1. There have been unofficial ports of the Magic Froyo back to the Dream, see the "When will my phone get the Android 2.2 update (FroYo)?" post android.stackexchange.com/questions/2696/…
–
GAThrawnMar 29 '11 at 14:42

If you want Android 2.0+, you must root the device and install a custom rom such as CyanogenMod. Full instructions and other information can be found here. Note that the G1 is no longer supported after CM6 (Android 2.2), but there may be other custom roms available to obtain Gingerbread (Android 2.3).